CHAPTER FOUR
Paul's Final Farewell to Timothy
(vs 1) Having just concluded affirming the all-sufficiency of the
Inspired Word, Paul now gives a charge to Timothy.
"I charge thee" -- before God and Christ; how solemn!!
"sight of God..." -- Jehovah is conscious of our every move.
"shall judge..." -- All must stand before the Tribunal Bar of
heaven and give an account of our deeds while here on
earth. cf. Mt. 25:31ff.
"the living" -- those alive when He returns.-- Acts 10:42
"the dead" -- those in the graves shall rise--1 Thess. 4:13ff
NOTE: Paul is encouraging Timothy to remember that he,
too, would be held accountable for his work and
teaching.
"his appearing" -- Christ's second coming for judgment.
"his kingdom" -- At His second coming the glory and majesty
of His Kingdom will be fully seen by all. He will
demonstrate once again His complete control. He will be
shown as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Phil. 2:10.
(vs 2) "preach the word" -- The Gospel, the message of Heaven. One
dare not add to it or take away from it, nor change it
in any way. Cf. 3:16-17. It must be preached even if
all men reject it.
"be urgent" -- be ready, this is important.
"in season" -- when things are favorable, when things seem
right, going well.
"out of season" -- No season (time) when the gospel should
not be preached. At times you will be ridiculed,
ignored, opposed, etc., but, preach it anyhow. When
things are right, when things are not right, preach the
word.
"reprove" -- offer evidence of wrong.
"rebuke" -- convict, applying the truth. cf. 3:16.
"exhort" -- cause the listener to act favorably to the truth.
The "word" is the only rule of faith and practice.
"longsuffering" -- Always patient and kind while dealing with
the souls of mankind.
(vs 3) Paul had warned of apostasy twice already -- 1 Tim. 4:1;
2 Tim. 3:1. The time was coming when professed children
of God will not endure sound doctrine.
"itching ears" -- desirous of hearing something new,
something different. cf. Acts 17:21.
NOTE: It should not surprise us when someone starts
a new religious movement. People have been looking for
something new from the beginning of time. The simple
gospel no longer satisfies them. They must be
entertained by novelties.
Cf. Hos. 4:6-10.
"teachers after their own lusts" -- Those who preach what the
people want to hear, rather than what they need to
hear. When God's truth is left, there is no stopping
place. cf. 3:13 -- "worse and worse."
(vs 4) When one rejects "sound doctrine," they end up with fables.
"turn away" -- A false teacher will aggressively oppose the
truth of the gospel. He (she), succumbing to his own
lusts, refuses the truth and accepts error.
"fables" -- "A legendary story of supernatural happenings; a
narration intended to enforce a useful truth,
especially one in which animals speak and act like
human beings." False and unprofitable doctrines.
Unfounded stories. Speculations. Strange that many had
rather believe in fables than in the gospel.
(vs 5) "be thou sober" -- In contrast to those "intoxicated" with
"fables," Timothy was to be "sober." Be alert!!
This suggests that those who were teaching false
doctrines and fables were acting like drunken fools,
without reason or logic.
"suffer hardships" -- Timothy, if you do these things,
difficult times will come. Be ready for them. cf. 3:12.
"work of an evangelist" -- One who announces the good news.
A job to be done. Preach Christ!!
"fulfill thy ministry" -- Fill up each part.
(vs 6) Paul now turns to himself.
"being offered" (footnote--"poured out as a drink-offering")
Num. 15:1-10 -- The "drink offering" accompanied the
sacrifice under the Law of Moses. A "sweet savor."
NOTE: The calm assurance of the apostle in face the of
death itself. He was ready to go. 2 Cor. 5:8. Death
was no terror!!!
"time...is come" -- near at hand. His work was about over.
(vs 7) "fought" -- Ours is a battle. Eph. 6:10-19. "good fight"
"finished the course" -- ready to cross the finish line;
still going full force ahead. He had been faithful to
the end. Never giving up!! Acts 20:24-27.
"kept the faith" -- Paul had never flinched. He had never
faltered; but, had ever been true to the gospel. The
old soldier was true to the end.
(vs 8) "henceforth" -- as a result of the previous statements.
"laid up" -- a prepared place for a prepared people.
Cf. John 14:1-4
"crown of righteousness" -- glory, reward, honor.
"righteous judge" -- fair, impartial, all knowing.
"also to all" -- Not only for Paul, but to all who are
faithful to the end. Rev. 2:10.
"loved his appearing" -- Accepted Him as the messiah, the
Savior; our Lord and Master.
(vs 9) "Give diligence..." Put forth effort; urgent request.
"shortly" -- Paul recognized his time here in the flesh was
rapidly coming to a close. Possible the aged apostle
was lonely, wishing to see his child in the faith.
What a reunion it would be.
(vs 10) "Demas" -- Col. 4:14; Philemon 1:24. Once a trusted fellow
worker for the Lord.
"forsook me" -- turned his back on me, left me.
"having loved this present world" -- What a sad statement!!
Demas had turned his back on Paul because of his love
for the "present world."
NOTE: John tells us not to love the world, neither
the things that are in the world. 1 John 2:15-17.
"Crescens" -- Nothing else is known of Crescens, nor why he
went to Galatia.
"Titus to Dalmatia" -- We do not know why he went. Possibly
Paul sent him on a mission.
(vs 11) "Luke" -- The beloved physician (Col. 4:14); a traveling
companion of Paul. The writer of the third Gospel and
the book of Acts. By the use of the pronouns "we,"
"us," "they," we are able to see when Luke was with
Paul or not. (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5, 27:1.)
"Mark" -- The cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). Paul and
Barnabas had a disagreement over having John Mark go
with them on Paul's second journey (Acts 15:36-41).
Mark had since proven himself to be trustworthy.
"for ministering" -- Whether as a personal helper, or to
minister the Word is not clear. Either could be true.
(vs 12) "Tychicus" -- Acts 20:4, a companion of Paul on his third
missionary journey. Sent to Ephesus to report on the
apostle's condition and most likely to deliver the
letters to Ephesus and to Colossae. (Eph. 6:21-22; Col.
4:7-8.)
(vs 13) "The cloak" -- While passing through Troas, Paul had left the
cloak with Carpus. Winter was approaching (4:21), and
Paul felt the need of it.
"books, especially the parchments" -- No way to know what
books or parchments Paul meant. Safe to conclude that
Timothy would know.
It has been suggested that they may have been
copies of the Old Testament scriptures that Paul wanted
to use in his defense to show that his religion was a
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and was no threat
to the Roman Government.
"The parchments" may have been some of Paul's own
writings. Obviously we do not know.
(vs 14) "Alexander, the coppersmith" -- There are a number of men
named Alexander mentioned: (1) Acts 19:33; (2) 2 Tim.
4:14; (3) 1 Tim. 1:19-20. The one mentioned here was
one who worked with metal. Timothy would know of whom
Paul was speaking, It seems that Paul was forewarning
Timothy of the dangers of this Alexander.
"Lord will render..." -- The righteous judgement of the Lord
will deal with Alexander according to his deeds. Paul
is not vindictive, but, rather prophetic.
(vs 15) "of whom" -- Alexander
"beware" -- Alexander is a dangerous man, watch out for him.
"withstood our words" -- (1) withstood the gospel, or (2)
opposed the testimony of Paul before the Roman court.
(vs 16) "At my first..." -- Paul stood alone before the Roman Court.
This indicates that the apostle had made more than one
appearance before the Roman Courts.
"All forsook me" -- No one at his side, to speak in his
behalf. None had the courage to acknowledge his
friendship. One who stood by his side would himself be
in great danger.
Nero accused Christians of causing the great fire
in Rome (64 A.D.) thus bringing horrible sufferings
upon them. Paul was the acknowledged leader of these
hated Christians, thus, any who would stand by him
would be in grave danger.
"may...to their account" -- Paul holds no animosity toward
any.
NOTE: Jesus predicted that all would desert Him in
His arrest and trial. John 16:32.
(vs 17) "the Lord" -- There was one who did not forsake Paul.
"strengthened me" -- The Lord had promised to be with the
apostles when they were brought before the tribunals of
men. Matt. 10:19-20. And so did He!!!
NOTE: Does not this promise continue down to our
present time? Christ has promised to be with us.
Matt. 28:20.
"the message" -- the gospel, the good news.
"fully proclaimed" -- Paul did not water-down the message,
nor lesson the demands of the gospel. cf. Acts 20:27.
No doubt, there was a large audience gathered to view
the trial. Paul used the opportunity to, no doubt, to
tell of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord.
NOTE: Can you not visualize this dramatic scene?
The aged apostle standing alone before the Roman court,
in all of its splendor and power; a huge audience
crying for his blood; and his firm voice proclaiming
the resurrected and ascended Lord; pleading with them
to obey the Lord of Lords.
"delivered out of the mouth" -- No doubt, Paul had expected
to be cast into the arena of lions. Such was the case
in so many examples of these early Christians. Yet, at
this time, he was "delivered."
(vs 18) "deliver...evil work" -- The Lord will protect him from any
evil designs that would cause him to deny the Lord.
NOTE: Paul does not say the Lord would deliver him
from death.
"heavenly kingdom" -- The apostle anticipated his presence
before the throne of God and his entrance into that
eternal abode of the souls of the righteous.
Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 5:8-9; 2 Pet. 1:11.
"to whom...." -- Paul's praise is directed toward the Lord,
thus once again pointing out His divinity.
(vs 19) "Prisca and Aquila" -- Originally from Pontus (Acts 18:2);
driven from Rome (Acts 18:2); being tentmakers, met
Paul while in Corinth; were with Paul in Ephesus (1
Cor. 16:19); were greeted by Paul in his letter to Rome
(Rom. 16:3). They had taught Apollos the way of the
Lord (Acts 18:26). Very faithful and zealous workers
for the Lord.
"house of Onesiphorus" -- Had been with Paul in Rome (1:16).
His family was in Ephesus.
(vs 20) "Erastus" -- A companion of Paul (Acts 19:22), whom Paul had
sent into Macedonia. Most likely not the same one as
mentioned in Rom. 16:23, who was the treasurer of the
city of Corinth.
"Trophimus" -- Had traveled with Paul to Jerusalem. He was
from Ephesus (Acts 21:29).
"left sick" -- Why did Paul not heal him? Surely he had the
power to heal. It shows that the miraculous powers of
the Holy Spirit could not be used for personal
benefits. The gift of healing was used for the same
purposes as the other gifts, to confirm the word (John
20:30-31).
NOTE: The Word does not need confirming today. It
was confirmed centuries ago and stands today as the
confirmed message of Heaven. Paul states that when the
"perfect is come" (completed revelation), "that which
is in part" (partial revelation) would be "done away"
(1 Cor. 13:10).
(vs 21) "before winter" -- Paul knew his days were short and travel
in the winter would be extremely difficult. If Timothy
did not come before winter, it might be too late.
"Eubulus, etc." -- We know nothing of these mentioned, except
they were faithful brethren sending their greetings to
Timothy.
(vs 22) "The Lord...." -- What a Nobel and encouraging closing. These
are most likely the last words of the great apostle.
All is well if the "Lord is with us."
"Grace...." -- Probable to the church in Ephesus. May God's
good favor be with them.
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